Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-22
The Hand of Destiny.

l.
faudacious zephyr saucily brushed the fac
of the girl who lay upon the slopirg greer
I,bank. She was so still that a daring birt
came curiously near, and an adventuresom,
Esquirrel crept up slowly, his bright eye
glancing from side to side, seeming to re
tgard with wonder the figure clad in th,
plain white gown.
Suddenly two little feet protruded from
the full skirt, and with decided Jump, ane
Ia shake of the dark curly locks, Haze
i7Thair rose, and swinging her broad garder
hat by its string started through the woods
when shrill whistle sounded. With ;
mischievous smile, the girl hastily threw
her hat on the grass, and seizing low
hanging grape vine, swung herself by it tt
a large branch, where she seated herself
quite hidden by the clinging moss and thicl
Ileaves. 81 p
In moment boy with crop of yellow
hair, honest blue eyes and smiling mouth
and wearing straw hat carelessly on tht
back of his head, came into sight, looking
on either side as he whistled.
Hazel! Hazelp' he called, adding in ar
undertone, "Where is the girl? Gone off te
walk, believe, when I'm-Hullop' as Z
smothered laugh betrayed her. "Now say
HazeE that's too bad; joking, when you're
going away so soon. Come down, and let's
have one jolly talk.'
81 was just thinking how lonely should
be, and how should miss you, and these
lovely woods, and the brook, and-every.
thing," answered the girl, as she came
swinging down on the 1.-THE vine, dropping
| on the grass beside her companion
"Northern girls will be shocked at my
romps, and no one will be as good company
as my old Bob, bless you," she continued,
embracing the boy with the untrammeled
freedom OF childhood, for though nearly Il
she had never been taught conventionalities
or had her impulses restrained.
A slight color filled Rob Stevens brown
cheeks, and he unclasped the arms thrown
round his neck, and raised the curly head
on his shoulder and said, seriously: "Hazel
dear, that is-well, wanted to say some
thing to you, that very thing. We've beer
friends long time, haven't we?" s'Ol
course" and Hazel looked at him wonder
ingly. "And, well, bother it; say, you
won't forget me, will you, Hazel, and you
know what you promised me down by the
old magnolia" 81 remember" she an.
swered, II said I'd never care for any one
as much as for you, and I'd wait until you
were old enough, and then we'd''- CAL
right, never mind saying it, if you II re.
member, and keep your promise; and say,
Hazel, you know girls don't usually hug
the fellows, so be careful. P'raps you'd
better not any more" The dark eyes
opened wide and the sensitive mouth quiv.
cred. mo, Bob, won't, only thought
as long as it was only you it was no harm.
I'll try and remember"
They sat there by the cool stream until a
clear bell warned them that the evening
meal was being prepared in the big house,
which could just be seen through the trees,
and away they scampered, hand in hand,
up the long, green slope.
Judge THAR was a wealthy planter, but
also an educated gentleman, and he realized
the Importance of sending his motherless
daughter away to better schools than those
in the ''sunny South" The poor man
tried to perform all the duties of mother
and father, but he was sadly deficient some
times, and felt himself so lately as he saw
his "baby' growing into a tall girl. He
noticed her increasing familiarity with Rob
Stevens, the son Of his nearest neighbor,
and, indeed, the only white child for some
miles around, and not daring to put new
ideas into her mind, deemed it advisable to
place her in more experienced hands. So
early the following Monday Northern
aunt took Hazel to her own home, and three
weeks from the day on which she bade Rob
an affectionate farewell saw her fairly es-
tablished in fashionable school.
For awhile, to HazePs wondering eyes,
everything seemed like fairy tale, and be-
ing very susceptible, she conceived violent
attachments on all sides; but her busy brain
soon went to work, and she began to dis
tinguish between the false and true, and got
L. ,.o1 x-s1 !, H. IL r
human nature with only slight heartache.
Rob wrote every week, telling her of the
things that interested her at home, and at
first she answered in her old affectionate
way, until the girls teased her about her
devoted admirer. Then Rob noticed that
her letters sounded forced, though still
friendly, and missing the sisterly conf
Gences, he wondered, then longed to see
her, and finally went North, and in due
time presented his card at the door of the
boarding school. AS he stood in the long
reception room, waiting for his old play
mate to come, and wondering if she would
throw her arms about his neck and kiss him
as she used, he saw tall, graceful figure,
in long gown of clinging white stuff, with
dusky hair gathered in loose knot on the
top of her head, and dark, starry eyes,
standing at the door; he heard a rustic of
sweeping skirts, then a sweet voice, and
Hazel cordially shook hands, assured him
how glad she was to see him, and offered a
chair, with pretty motion of one white
hand. Self-possessed and gracious, she
made poor Rob feel i'll at ease, and like such
little boy, as he fingered the blue felt hat
he bought to please her, and answered her
questions in monosyllables.
But when he rose to 90 he made desper-
ate effort, and begged her to say "goodby''
IN the old way. She flushed, in such a
dainty way, he thought, then said, hurried
ly-
81 hoped you'd never allude to that folly
again. You were the first to tell me that
it wasn't quite good form, and since then
l have been grateful to you for not taking
advantage of child's impulsiveness. l
think / have, to great extent, outgrown
the old impetuosity, and fancy l shall
never again be guilty of being the center o.
such tableau as that at the depot when
left c. and she laughed at the re-
membrance of the scene which Rob hao
cherished tenderly.
So they said good afternoon calmly anl
quietly, and when Rob reached his hotel he
packed his gripsack and left the city with 6
sinking heart, resolved to put the face o
IHo lalf glrl DoHluu ulUl, 10 WOrk udTu AIT
forget the pang caused by her Indifference.
And as for Hazel, she went to her room
with bright face, but suddenly catching
sight of the little bracelet Rob had giver
her so long ago and the worn pile of letters
tied with faded blue ribbon, she threw
herself down on the bed and cried peniten
tears at the thought of the honest lad whom
she had hurt so cruelty.
/
The papers were eagerly sought; all owe
the school were anxious faces, and NOR
than one group was gathered in various
corners, talking over the latest bulletins
Fort Sumter had been attacked. The wa
had begun.
kilograms were constantly being deliv
cred, for fathers and brothers had enlisted
and daughters and sisters must bravely bic
them ''farewell and God speed"
Hazel had been the first to go, for popu
lar sentiment turned against her as rebel
and she gladly went to help her father, wh'
was mastering forces and drilling recruits
Camp life suited him; in the field he seemed
in his element, and the prudent farmer be
came brilliant officer. Always foremos
in the fight, he won respect even from hi
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